This is huge for me, because I usually give up my New Year's Resolutions on about the 4th. But, I've started working for these people and so I'm thinking that I best be making a blog.

So here it is.

2008. The Year of the Slow Cooker.

it's actually the year of the rat.

I don't have a rat.But I do have these little guys:Daisy and Turtle taking one for the team...

no guinea pigs were harmed in the making of this tasteless attempt at humor.

Updated, 2013:
I finished my yearlong challenge, and it was a success. I feel so very lucky to have turned this simple idea into a "job" --- I didn't set out thinking I'd learn new ways to use my slow cooker, merely to chronicle my meals. I feel like I'm living the American dream, and am so very very very thankful.

I do have cookbooks, if you'd like to check them out. Here is my Amazon page.

Oh my god .... Im sooooo IN!!!! too funny ..... except, if you live in Peru, then that picture is pretty accurate... lol found you via notesfromthetrenches- got a crock pot last year , haven't even opened it --- help me lady, help me!

I've always wanted a crockpot. Well, ever since Alton Brown told me I needed one to make delicious oatmeal, anyway. perhaps now's the time--we'll just have to find room in our already-cluttered kitchen.

I do have to say that I think I'd have WAY too many leftovers if I used mine everyday. It seems that I fill the darn thing up every single time I use it... and it's just me, my husband, and our three-year-old. I usually invite my parents over to eat on "crock-pot-night", but even then I have leftovers like crazy!!

I'm so excited to have found you! I have you as one of my favorites on my blog too (http://chroniclesofminnesota.blogspot.com/). :) I've really only used my crockpots for chili and sloppy joes, so I'm excited to try some new recipes for my VERY picky eaters! :)

I tried the bread in the crock pot idea last night and it was great! I had Bob's Redmill bread on hand and I added a few TBSPs of Almond meal flour to the mixture with a TSP of water and it turned out great. I liked the results better than my bread machine. There was no gritty taste. Next time I'll wait to cut it until it is cool. I was so excited to taste it that I sliced a piece right after taking it out! (it wasn't as tall and fluffy after) Thank you for your ideas!

oh my gosh this is so cool. i run a group on cafemom called crock pot moms and we have so much fun there. i think its gonna be fun to go back and read all your previous posts. you seem to have a twisted sense of humor like me and i love it. hugs, carolyn a.k.a. chuckletushy

I saw you on Rachel Ray and I decided to look up your website. I must say I HATE to cook, my husband is the cook in the family but this has encouraged me to try some of your recipes! I can't wait to go get the ingrediants and try some! THANKS!

Hello,I saw you on TV today Rachel Ray show and I have now been inspired to take my crock pot out of the closet and get cooking. I look forward to making your recipes and will let you now how my family likes them. Thank you and God Bless. Mamarosa :)

I saw you on Rachal Ray too! I love crock pot recipes and sent you three to try. I can't wait to try the cheese cake recipe. Dessert first! Keep it up. I am so excited to have new recipes to try. I might even get a second crock pot!

Just saw you on Rachel Ray...love the idea and I love my crock pot. I have been looking through your archives and I am amazed at how creative you are. Can't wait to follow you through the rest of the year! Good Luck and Congrats on 6 months of success!!

Saw you on Rachel Ray yesterday. I made my hubby bring up the crockpot from storage and I have bookmarked your site. With a toddler running around and one due any day, this is a great idea for me!! Great site - thankyou for doing this!!

Hey, I too saw you on Rachael Ray and immediately went to your blog . . .you are now added to my bloglist and I have the 2 curry recipes set aside to try . . . I love both Thai and Indian Curry, yeah!! I have at least 2 other ppl who read my blog that are going to check out yours now.

I love Crock Pot cooking . . . and now it looks like I'll need more than one, hehe!!

Saw you on Rachael Ray (whom I love and am jealous you got to meet!) and went right to my computer (paused the show and ran to my computer). I LOVE my crock pot but can't imagine 365 original ways to cook with it. I look forward to reading more of your blog and getting and giving receipes!

Well I've been following your blog for a while, but just saw this post today! I live in Ecuador, South America and that picture is served up as a delicacy here! Love your ideas, but I'm guessing if I get a crock pot guniea pig receipe you DON'T want it :-) Thanks for your ideas.

Since returning to work recently I feel like I'm letting dinners slide sometimes for convience sake. I recently started taping Rachel Ray so I could watch while I worked out. LOVE HER and was so excited to hear about your blog. I am running out today so I can try the creme brulee'. Your doing things I never knew my Crockpot could do. Thank you!

I canned 12 quarts of tomatoes last weekend so feeling domestically empowered I purchased a crock pot today AND a frozen heirloom chicken. It is thawing in my frig right now and I cannot wait to cook the heck out of it tomorrow. Thank you for this site! My more modest goal is to cook with my cp at least once a week which may mean it will take SEVEN years to get through your website!

a friend linked to your blog the other day for the applesauce recipe. i found 25 pounds of pears for $3 at our farmer's market that were super ripe and make crockpot pearsauce. it was fabulous and all the kids have been fighting over leftovers! (they don't know i canned 6 jars of 'leftovers')

Anyway, just wondering if you were planning to make this into a book. there is such a variety of recipes and although I'd like to try them all, there aren't enough days in my weeks. i don't want to loose all of this tried and true information!!! please seriously consider it and let me know!

I can't believe I didn't discover you earlier in the year but I'm a great fan of crockpot cooking and I've really enjoyed reading your recipes (and laughing along with you... Daisy and Turtle in the crock had me HOWLING to the point where my 8 year old wondered what was wrong with me...)

We don't care about gluten -- no wheat issues here -- but have nut and soy allergies going on, so indirectly we'll benefit from your care in ingredients selection.

Thanks for a great blog... and I've preordered your book. Does it come with an extra couple hours in my day so I can sit down and read it? ;-)

A friend referred me to your site on 11/1 - the chocolate fluff fondue. Haven't tried it yet, but I have tried a few recipes. I don't know why I am thrilled to be crockpot cooking finally: the new crockpot with 2, 4, and 6 qt pot or your site. Something about the wit, the photo, the recipe, and especially the verdicts. Thanks so much! I hope to relive bits of your 2008 in 2009!

I just wanted to echo the millions of fans you have around the world...well, you SHOULD have millions of fans around the world...THANK YOU!!!! I have not had an oven for, well, lets just say a very long time now. This blog is a lifesaver! We are eating more variety and much healthier meals. Please don't let this blog end in 2009!!! I can't survive without it!!!!!

hi, i just found your blog... a little late, i know. i love what you've been doing here, i just linked to you in one of my posts. i found a lot of the things you've done really interesting. do you have plans to continue it past 2008?

I just ran across your page and LOVE it. But what really sold me was the picture of the guinea pigs! I started crying I was laughing so hard. Junie B. and Phillip Johnny Bob can help out Turtle and Daisy any time! Yes, I live in the south where three names in common. No, I did not name them. My first grader class did.

You are an answer to my prayer! My husband has been diagnosed with Celiac disease and I've been frantic about finding recipes. Plus I like (MUST) plan our meals to be cost effective (fixed income). Thank you for taking time to create this blog and then your follow through. You've certainly helped this little old couple!!

I love this site. It is refreshing to see people using more natural foods. By the way, the two guinea pigs in a crock pot could be a meal in Peru. They eat them and they are called Cuy (coo eee) no lie, I was served them on a chacra(farm) there by a sweet lady while I was a vegetarian. Talk about a predicament. Oh well, a bit didn't hurt and they tasted, dare I say it, like chicken. Happy cooking!

Just saw you on Rachel Ray today - brodcast in the UK. (We are just getting re-runs of old shows) I had to look. I tinker with my slow cooker and my husband thinks all meat from it tastes the same. So I need to try new things. I am also returning to work full time after nearly a year of maternity leave. With 2 kids, a husband with 2 jobs I have no idea how I am going to get everything done, so I think using my slow cooker alot more is a v.good idea. My mum used hers alot in the 70s & 80s. Its funny how in the end we all turn into our mums.

So funny - I followed you that year, I want to say I found you in APril, then this week I was "dying" trying to find some recipes that would work with my now 5 kid family. And found myself back at your blog, and bought your new book --- I LOVE IT!!! I wasn't ready for you in 2008, but now in 2011 I am ready and wanted to say THANKYOU SO MUCH!!

Here it is 2012, but I just found you searching for turkey in a crockpot recipes. So I think I am now going to try out a lot of your recipes - it is Summer here in Australia and the crockpot takes a lot of the heat out of cooking - you can only eat so many salads and cold meat meals in one week.Sally